Molecular MRI Aims At Component of Multiple Cancers

June 8, 2015

Novel MRI agents successfully target tumor-specific physiology

Baltimore, Md. (Embargoed until 12:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 8) – A relatively new biomarker called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is the bullseye for three new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents that bind to the protein in not only prostate cancer, but a range of tumor types, according to research unveiled at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

“We have shown in this proof-of-concept study that PSMA could serve as a biomarker for MR-based molecular imaging due to its high concentration within target cells, limited expression within non-targeted tissues and accessibility on the cell surface,” said Sangeeta Ray, PhD, principal investigator for the study and assistant professor in the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Md.

PSMA is found in both primary and metastatic prostate tumors, and within newly developing blood vessels of many non-prostate cancers. An investigational imaging agent, if approved, could one day contribute to patient management by helping clinicians direct biopsies and cancer therapies.

In this study, PSMA binding affinities were assessed for three MR contrast agents, which were then imaged in living cells using a 9.4 tesla magnet MR system. Results of the study showed that the three synthesized gadolinium-based contrast agents (Gd-1, Gd-2, and Gd-3) were able to assess parameters of PSMA in the experimental cell lines and mouse models of prostate cancer. Gd-3 demonstrated the most MR contrast enhancement, about 36 percent, and demonstrated PSMA-mediated uptake on MR images of mice. As encouraging as the research is, these agents are still in preliminary stages of study and will need to be investigated further.

“With adequate funding, we estimate that a lead compound could be tested in human patients within the next two to three years,” said Ray.

More than 13.7 million people are living with cancer in the United Stated alone. An estimated 39.6 percent of Americans are expected to be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime and approximately 589,430 people are expected to die of cancer in 2015, according to statistics released in April by the National Cancer Institute.

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to raising public awareness about nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, a vital element of today’s medical practice that adds an additional dimension to diagnosis, changing the way common and devastating diseases are understood and treated and helping provide patients with the best health care possible.

SNMMI’s 18,000 members set the standard for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice by creating guidelines, sharing information through journals and meetings and leading advocacy on key issues that affect molecular imaging and therapy research and practice. For more information, visit www.snmmi.org.